Comparison of USNA and USMA

ClassOf18

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I am currently a high school senior, weighing a decision between West Point and the Naval Academy.

I understand that the biggest difference between the two is the branch of service you are given a commission within after graduation, and that should be the most important factor to consider when choosing.

However, does anyone have any insight into how the two schools compare to each other while you are a student? Obviously, they are many similarities, but can anyone compare the two on their academic focus, student life, etc.?

Any help would be great, thanks.
 
Both will offer limitless opportunities in the classroom. Both will offer a military lifestyle. Choose based off of career opportunities...I'm leaning toward the USNA because of the unfathomable amount of career options...West Point puts such an emphasis on infantry. However, the marines are much more elite... Annapolis has amazing piloting and aeronautics programs and great opportunities to serve on boats and in subs...they also have the world's most elite special forces...what's not to love?
 
After graduation, you'll be serving in whichever service you choose for 5 years. Perhaps more if you take ADSO to get the job or initial base you want. Choose based on what you want to do for those 5 - 8 or more years, not on the school itself. If you don't understand whats available to you after graduating, research it.
 
Both will offer limitless opportunities in the classroom. Both will offer a military lifestyle. Choose based off of career opportunities...I'm leaning toward the USNA because of the unfathomable amount of career options...West Point puts such an emphasis on infantry. However, the marines are much more elite... Annapolis has amazing piloting and aeronautics programs and great opportunities to serve on boats and in subs...they also have the world's most elite special forces...what's not to love?


I don't know which academy is more "military". My father is a USNA grad and he said that USMA is far more "military". However, they are mostly the same.

"However, the Marines are much more elite" - you clearly have fallen for their cool commercials. The Marines can do some things that the Army can't. The Army can do some things that the Marines can't. Marines don't have airborne units. Army doesn't have amphibious assault units (or do they?) Army has full-spectrum warfighting capabilities. The Marines are much smaller and are not designed to fight full conflicts. Think of it this way: The Marines win battles, and the Army wins wars.

I am not arguing which is better. All I am saying is that your post is filled with multiple fallacies. The USMC has essentially functioned as a 'second Army' in the recent wars, and recently some high brass in the Corps said that there will be a focus to return the Marines to their roots (ships, amphibious operations, etc.?)

"most elite special forces" - first, Special Forces is the official term for the U.S Army Special Forces, otherwise known as the "green berets". Second, you need to stop watching so many movies. I have boys in the USMC 3rd Recon Batt., and I room with a Ranger, and two former active duty SEALs are in my class. They all say the same thing, in that each branch's SOF units cross-train and can do things that the others can't. FORECON Marines are similar to Rangers and do similar things. Army SF has a specialty. SEALs have a specialty.

If you're going to be posting on these forums, please don't spread opinionated information to people who may or may not know better.

:thumb:
 
As you already said... the deciding factor should be what service you are drawn to. In that regards USNA offers Navy and Marine Corps options. Which means your training opportunities will be mostly Navy based. There are Marine training options, but you will have to seek those out. USNA will prepare you just fine for the Marine Corps if that is what you want. If you go Marine Corps Ground, you will not know your specialty until about 1/2 way through TBS, at West Point you will know your Branch before you graduate. Between subs, SWO, pilot, NFO, Marine ground, Marine Air (pilot and NFO), nuke options, spec ops, and spec war there is a huge variety of service selection opportunities. Do you want to possibly fly jets? Then Navy it is.

As far as school differences I can only tell you what I have seen and opinions. Not trying to start a food fight between services. Neither one is better than the other, they are different and both turn out great officers. Navy is closer to a city which is nice for liberty. West Point is close to NY, but seems like a million miles away for a lot of Cadets. I think both have beautiful campuses, but West Point seems older and darker to me. I had an exchange cadet as my next door neighbor from West Point. His viewpoint was academics were tougher at Navy than West Point. In my opinion, I think West Point tends to take the military training aspects more serious during the academic year.

Also, don't forget to compare majors between the schools and extra curricular activities. Those are important also.

Can't go wrong with either. Both great institutions. If you want to know what it is like to win the Army Navy game, then we all know you pick Navy!:thumb:
 
I don't know which academy is more "military". My father is a USNA grad and he said that USMA is far more "military". However, they are mostly the same.

"However, the Marines are much more elite" - you clearly have fallen for their cool commercials. The Marines can do some things that the Army can't. The Army can do some things that the Marines can't. Marines don't have airborne units. Army doesn't have amphibious assault units (or do they?) Army has full-spectrum warfighting capabilities. The Marines are much smaller and are not designed to fight full conflicts. Think of it this way: The Marines win battles, and the Army wins wars.

I am not arguing which is better. All I am saying is that your post is filled with multiple fallacies. The USMC has essentially functioned as a 'second Army' in the recent wars, and recently some high brass in the Corps said that there will be a focus to return the Marines to their roots (ships, amphibious operations, etc.?)

"most elite special forces" - first, Special Forces is the official term for the U.S Army Special Forces, otherwise known as the "green berets". Second, you need to stop watching so many movies. I have boys in the USMC 3rd Recon Batt., and I room with a Ranger, and two former active duty SEALs are in my class. They all say the same thing, in that each branch's SOF units cross-train and can do things that the others can't. FORECON Marines are similar to Rangers and do similar things. Army SF has a specialty. SEALs have a specialty.

If you're going to be posting on these forums, please don't spread opinionated information to people who may or may not know better.

:thumb:

:thumb:
 
USMA is obviously more "ground" focused meaning that you will do more of the following: marching with packs, eating MREs, land navigation, living in the field, etc.

USNA is obviously more sea based meaning you'll be doing more sailing, ship damage control, seamanship, etc.

The SAs are more or less the same when it comes to academics, honor, athletics, military life, etc. Not identical but generally similar.

USMA takes marching and parades more seriously than USNA -- not saying that's good or bad, just reality.

The above are generalizations . . . in all honesty, both SAs are terrific. They simply have a different focus and different areas of emphasis.
 
Both will offer limitless opportunities in the classroom. Both will offer a military lifestyle. Choose based off of career opportunities...I'm leaning toward the USNA because of the unfathomable amount of career options...West Point puts such an emphasis on infantry. However, the marines are much more elite... Annapolis has amazing piloting and aeronautics programs and great opportunities to serve on boats and in subs...they also have the world's most elite special forces...what's not to love?

I am sold, I am picking Navy, kidding.

You are using a lot of nice words, "unfathomable," "elite," "amazing," and "great opportunities." Actual facts might be better.
 
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